EP279: How Love and Impact Live On
True Stride
Over the past eight months, I’ve lost two dear loved ones who had a profound impact on my life. They lived fully, with vibrant energy, wisdom, kindness, and deep care for others. While I’m heartbroken that I no longer get to experience their physical presence here on earth, I also feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the love I was able to receive from them, love that was unconditional and deeply shaping. One of them passed just yesterday, so forgive me if my emotions rise as I share, but in the midst of the sadness, I find comfort in knowing that even though I can no longer see...
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EP278: Release, Readiness, and What Comes Next
True Stride
I feel like there’s been a lot of conversation lately about the Chinese zodiac and the year we’re moving out of, which is the Year of the Wood Snake. That year comes to an end on February 16, and then on February 17, according to the Chinese zodiac, we move into the Year of the Fire Horse. Even if you don’t follow the Chinese New Year, I’ve really appreciated how this way of marking time gives us an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and check our own reality. In this episode, I share why the energy of the Wood Snake has felt so accurate for this past year, with its focus on shedding,...
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EP277: Shape Your Vision with Creativity and Intention
True Stride
I’ve been thinking a lot about intention setting lately and how many different ways there are to get clear on what we want to attract. Some people love choosing a word for the year, others don’t resonate with that at all, and that reflection led me to revisit the tools I’ve used over time to stay grounded and inspired. What matters most isn’t the method itself, but whether we’re carving out space to reflect, get creative, and really listen to what’s calling us forward. Today, we’ll dive into how vision boarding has supported me in the past and how a simple, pen-and-paper practice...
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EP276: Looking Back Through Pleasure and Expansion
True Stride
At the start of a new year, I always notice a shift. It’s subtle, but it’s there. A little lightness. A sense that I can pause, take stock, and step into something new. Even though it’s just one calendar year turning into the next, it still feels like permission to begin again. To set new intentions. To let the past be the past. I don’t overthink it. I just pay attention to that sense of possibility. As I look back on the year behind me, it wasn’t especially easy. There were moments that felt heavy, uncertain, and stretching in ways I didn’t expect. Yet, when I slow down and really...
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EP275: A Word to Ground, Guide, and Inspire You
True Stride
I can’t quite believe that yet another year of us going on Wise Walks together has come and gone. In our last episode, I invited you to reflect on your previous Word of the Year, and I’ve been doing that too. Looking back, I can see how my word, Co-create, supported me in ways I couldn’t have fully anticipated at the time. Sometimes we choose a word with a clear sense of direction or intuition about what will help us feel more aligned and in our True Stride. When I think about why this practice matters to me, I always come back to the idea of choosing a word for the year not as something...
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EP274: Reflecting on the Year Through One Word
True Stride
As this year comes to a close, I wanted to slow things down and really look at how my word for 2025 actually showed up in my life. I’ve shared before that I no longer set New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I choose a word that helps ground me in how I want to show up and what I want to experience. This year, that word was co-create. As someone who has always relied on planning, structure, and execution, this word challenged me to loosen my grip and trust timing instead of forcing outcomes. It became a way to check myself when things felt rushed, heavy, or resistant, and to ask whether I was...
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EP273: Leaning Into Your Inner Athlete
True Stride
It’s funny how aging has a way of quietly changing the conversation we have with our bodies. I notice it when I’m moving or when a familiar pose needs more support, or when strength and flexibility show up differently than they used to. For a long time, I thought that meant I was losing something. What I’m realizing now is that it simply means that I’m being asked to listen more closely. There’s still a part of me that loves a challenge, that enjoys feeling capable and engaged, even if the expression of that looks different than it once did. Lately, I’ve been paying attention to...
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EP272: Freedom Waiting Beyond Your Limits
True Stride
Lately I have been spending time out on my Aunt’s ranch in Joshua Tree, California, and the rhythm of the animals has offered me a new perspective on how we respond to the boundaries in our lives. Watching the horses move through their space, communicate their needs, and express their energy reminded me how easy it is to accept certain limits without ever pausing to ask whether they still feel aligned. Their behavior became an unexpected mirror, showing me where I have honored barriers that were never truly mine or that no longer support who I am becoming. Their exuberance and clarity...
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EP271: Honoring Your Rites of Passage
True Stride
A conversation on a recent hike surprised me in the best way. My friend and I wandered into a chat about how we grew up and what shaped us, and it pulled up old memories I had not thought about in a long time. I shared a bit about my upbringing and the sense of community that came with it, but what really landed for me was how many different ways people mark the big moments in their lives. It does not matter if it comes from a formal tradition or something more personal. We all have these turning points that nudge us forward and help us understand who we are right now. Lately I have been...
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EP270: What Gratitude Makes Possible
True Stride
Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Striders. If you’re celebrating here in the U.S., I hope you’re surrounded by loved ones, friends, or even your fur babies, and that you’re feeling a sense of appreciation for the blessings in your life, the ones you’re experiencing now and the ones that have shaped you along the way. This time of year is a good reminder to pause, take a breath, and really acknowledge the good that is already present. As I’ve been reflecting on gratitude, I keep coming back to how much shifts when we look at what’s working instead of what’s missing. When we notice the...
info_outlineI’ve been thinking a lot about what happens when we actually give ourselves permission to step away from the routines that keep us comfortable. Right now, I’m on the road with my dogs and a van that’s more functional than fancy, and I’m calling this time my adult gap year (or period, lol). I may not have everything figured out, but I’m seeing what comes up when I put myself in new places and give myself space to grow. A “gap” experience is all about having the courage to NOT KNOW what’s next. And for making space for what nourishes you.
You know, it's funny what you start to think about when you finally peel yourself away from the day-to-day grind. Mostly, it’s just about giving myself space to breathe and seeing what bubbles up when I’m not constantly busy. I think this is why shaking up routine matters.
I’d love for you to join me on this Wise Walk to explore that very feeling. We'll explore the magic that happens when you shake things up, how to tune into those little sparks that give you life, and why it's more than okay to not have the next step all figured out. It seems like the best moments happen when we finally switch off autopilot and just let ourselves be.
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Outside of becoming homeless, what are the ways you can change things up or bring in some gap year elements so you can immerse yourself in new experiences and perspectives?
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Where in your life can you shake things up to gain a new experience and increase self-awareness?
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What’s a routine that has been working for you, but you’re curious if there’s another avenue worth exploring?
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Are you willing to step outside of that norm or structure you created to gain different perspectives, new real-world experiences, and then decide if you want to continue, enhance, or change before committing to a new path?
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Are there areas in your life that you cherish but want to approach differently, especially with self-care practices you haven’t been consistent with?
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How can you set yourself up to release what’s holding you back and take yourself on a new exploration to try things differently?
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What is it you want to do with your time, what really matters to you, and are you willing to commit to making space for that?
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Where can you carve out alone time so you can hear your own voice and emotions above everyone else’s?
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What do you want to do with the information that surfaces when you slow down and listen to yourself?
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Where in your life can you be open to receiving messages and self-awareness that are already inside of you?
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How does it feel to imagine yourself excited about what might surface?
I’m really excited to pour my energy into the self-care practices and creative outlets that feel aligned right now, and to see what comes to life for me. And I’m so grateful that you’re here, walking this journey with me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I can’t wait for next Thursday’s Wise Walk. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, or feedback from today’s conversation. Don’t forget to prioritize fun as you read the signs, direct your path, and get your Stride On!
In this episode:
[03:04] I realized that I had gotten into routines and habits that felt like I was on autopilot. When you're in these routines it's more difficult to gain new perspectives and experiences.
[04:09] When things are too consistent, I don't feel like I'm growing and expanding as much as I could. During this gap period I'm disconnecting from what I've known for a long time.
[05:29] The beauty of this period of newness is that we don't know what we don't know.
[06:39] I'm excited about bringing some of my favorite self-care routines on this trip.
[08:56] My van is functional with bins and bags of beautiful self-care items. I got very clear on what I'm going to make space for in the van.
[10:48] The biggest thing I'm making space for is my dogs. Nourishment is another big thing. Plus my self care items, and I'm holding space for my creativity.
[12:17] Podcast equipment is coming, so you get to hear all about my new adventures. These Wise Walks and you, my listeners, are so important to me!
[13:30] I also want to see what surfaces in this gap experience.
[15:17] Sometimes we can't hear our own thoughts, if we have too many things and too many well-intentioned people influencing us.
[17:24] I'm excited to invest time and energy in the nourishment and the self-care practices that feel aligned for me. And to hold space and invest in my own creativity and those outlets and see what comes to life.
Memorable Quotes:
- “I am someone who appreciates change because it helps me shift out of that autopilot mode and it makes me go on Wise Walks with myself.” - Mary Tess
- “Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is say, I don’t know what’s next, and be okay with it.” - Mary Tess
- “When you quiet the outside voices, your own wisdom gets louder.” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources: